Potential of Artemisia annua Bioactives as Antiviral Agents Against SARS-CoV-2 and Other Health Complications

This review highlights <i>Artemisia annua</i>, a medicinal plant which grows in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known for its abundant therapeutic properties. <i>A. annua</i> serves as a rich source of various bioactive compounds, including sesquiterpenoid lactones, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins. Among these, artemisinin and its derivatives are most extensively studied due to their potent antimalarial properties. Extracts and isolates of <i>A. annua</i> have demonstrated a range of therapeutic effects, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antiviral properties. Given its significant antiviral activity, <i>A. annua</i> could be investigated for the development of new nutraceutical bioactive compounds to combat SARS-CoV-2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist in drug discovery by optimizing the selection of more effective and safer natural bioactives, including artemisinin. It can also predict potential clinical outcomes through in silico modeling of protein-ligand interactions. In silico studies have reported that artemisinin and its derivatives possess a strong ability to bind with the Lys353 and Lys31 hotspots of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, demonstrating their effective antiviral effects against COVID-19. This integrated approach may accelerate the identification of effective and safer natural antiviral agents against COVID-19.